Laurel Magazine

Monday Classes at Fusion Yoga and Wellness
2025-08-04 09:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Fusion Yoga and Wellness, 21A Lance Rd, Cashiers, NC, 28717, United States
Join us on Mondays at Fusion Yoga and Wellness!
Fusion Flow: Flow & Restore
9 AM
This class offers the best of both worlds, beginning with a mindful vinyasa flow to build heat, strength, and flexibility, followed by grounding restorative poses to help you slow down, release tension, and reset.
Fusion Flow: Gentle
10:30 AM
Slow down and unwind with this soothing class that focuses on gentle, flowing movements paired with mindful breathing.
Fusion Rx: Crushing PD
12:00 PM
This moderate-intensity class is designed for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease and may also benefit those with other neurological disorders.
Fusion Flow: Vinyasa
5:30 PM
This class offers a blend of movement and stillness, combining the mindful pacing of Hatha holds with the breath-connected flows of Vinyasa.
Visit https://www.fusionyogaandwellness.com/schedule for more information.

Jazz Meets Classical: Uncovering the Hidden Connections Between America's and Europe's Musical Traditions at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-08-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
The late great Dr. Billy Taylor said: “Jazz is America’s classical music.” But what does he mean? What is the relationship between “America’s classical music” and the classical music of the European tradition? The connections might be stronger than you think. Emory Music professor, minister, and jazz musician Dwight Andrews offers some intriguing insights into this subject with his lecture “Jazz Meets Classical.” He suggests there is more than a symbiotic relationship between the two in sound, sensibility, and even musical structures. Andrews uncovers the often overlooked connections of aesthetics, improvisation, and the requirement of mastery in both musical traditions. Equally important, he confronts the historically value laden and exclusionary ways that the very term “classical” serves to place some composers and music within the framework and excludes others. His presentation will include musical excerpts, provocative observations from the musicians themselves, and engagement with the audience to literally “hear” the connections when “Jazz Meets Classical.”

Studio Alive at The Bascom
2025-08-04 10:00 - 13:00 | The Bascom, 323 Franklin Rd, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Studio Alive is a group of dedicated artists that share a passion for drawing from live models.
The group meets in The Bascom’s Adult Studio on select Mondays, year-round.

HCCMF | Jazz Meets Classics at Highlands PAC
2025-08-04 17:00 | Highlands PAC, 507 Chestnut Street, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
“Jazz Meets Classics – Three’s Company”
Brahms Piano Trio in B Major
Jazz Trios

Highland Plateau Audubon Society | "Four Cameras, 100 Birds" at Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library
2025-08-04 18:30 | Albert-Carlton Community Library, 249 Frank Allen Rd, Cashiers, NC, 28741, United States
A photographic flight path through our woods taken by four local artists showing the beauty of our local birds.

Presented by the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society

Fascism Unbound: Exploring the Rise of Transnational Movements Then and Now at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-08-05 10:00 - 12:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
With the recent rise of far-right governments around the world, fascism is back in the news. But what is fascism? And how do we identify a “fascist”? These questions are hauntingly similar to those of the interwar period. When Benito Mussolini came to power in 1922, he declared that fascism was “not for export.” Nonetheless, far-right nationalists across Europe borrowed from Mussolini’s fascism, creating hybrid, syncretic movements that scholars have labeled “transnational fascism.”
This session uses the concept of transnational fascism to analyze illuminating, historical case studies, including Mussolini’s Italy, Adolf Hitler’s Germany, Gyula Gömbös’s Hungary, and Kārlis Ulmanis’s Latvia. Ultimately, the session will unveil the appeal of transnational fascism, both historically and in the present day.

CLE | An Exploration of Old World/New World Wines at High Country Wine and Provision
2025-08-05 15:00 - 17:00 | High Country Wine & Provisions, 621 Franklin Rd, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Step into the captivating world of wine as we guide you on a journey through the timeless classics of Old World wines and the bold, innovative flavors of New World wines!
In this class, you’ll learn the key differences between these two wine regions, from Europe’s traditional, terroir-driven wines to the more contemporary and fruit-forward styles of areas like California, Australia, and South America.

HCCMF | Jazz Meets Classics at The Village Green
2025-08-05 17:00 | The Village Green, 160 Frank Allen Road, Cashiers, NC, 28717, United States

Sapphire Valley’s Concert on the Slopes with TOO MUCH SYLVIA at Sapphire Valley Resort
2025-08-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Sapphire Valley Resort, 127 Cherokee Trail, Sapphire, NC, 28774, United States
TOO MUCH SYLVIA have won many awards including their 2018 Cammy Award winning CD “Throw me a rope” and 2014’s “2MS”, and continue to generate more fans through radio and internet airplay with the success of EIGHT #1 Songs since 2014! Combing their vocal blend and harmonies with their tight and tasteful musical arrangements and it’s a presentation that is always appealing to dancers and listener at a comfortable sound level for everyone, so grab your dancing shoes and let’s have a party!
Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy great music on the SV ski hill, under the North Carolina Sky!

Nature Center Nights | What Bat is That? at Highlands Nature Center
2025-08-05 20:00 - 21:00 | Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Rd, Highlands, NC, 28741
Stretch your wings and tune into the sounds of the many special bats of the Highlands area! Join our Naturalists on a walk through the Botanical Garden to watch them in flight.
All ages welcome
FREE | Registration required
(Weather dependent)

CLE | Rooted in Restoration: A Garden Tour with Lisa Dailey
2025-08-06 10:00 - 12:00 | NC
Join Lisa Dailey of Cultivation for an immersive horticulture restoration class on plant diversity, soil rebuilding, and sustainable gardening practices.
This interactive tour will guide you through a stunning 5-acre in-town mountain property, showcasing everything from untouched spaces to sophisticated gardens. Discover how Lisa integrates native plants, cutting gardens, dahlias, and seasonal vegetables into her landscape. Learn about the stages of garden development and soil rejuvenation. We’ll cover about 1/2 acre on foot with moderate inclines, so please dress accordingly and wear sturdy, comfortable footwear.
CLE will provide a sack lunch, and there will be time to sit and reflect after the tour. Bring a camping chair or folding chair for comfort.

Tinker Time for Tots at The Literacy and Learning Center
2025-08-06 11:00 - 12:00 | The Literacy & Learning Center, 675 S 4th Street, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
The Literacy & Learning Center is excited to bring back another season of engaging workshops tailored for preschoolers and their parents. The aim is to empower parents by demonstrating inventive ways to utilize everyday household items for their children’s educational benefit.
These sessions will showcase practical activities that parents can seamlessly incorporate into their daily routines, fostering a rich learning environment at home.

Rug Show at Josephine’s Emporium
2025-08-06 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-07 11:00 - 17:00 | Josephine’s Emporium, 40 Burns St,, Cashiers, NC, 28741, United States
Come see Oriental Rug Specialist rugs on display at Josephine’s Emporium.
Free rug pad with each purchase!
40 Burns Street, Cashiers.

Garden Tour at Highlands Nature Center
2025-08-06 12:00 | Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Rd, Highlands, NC, 28741
Join in for a free guided tour of the Highlands Botanical Gardens! Led by our Horticultural Specialist, a naturalist, or a guest expert, these weekly tours explore the fascinating native plants, ecosystems, and seasonal wonders of the Southern Appalachians. No two tours are ever the same!
Meet at the Highlands Biological Station Amphitheater. Come take a walk with us and see what’s blooming!

Free Expression from Ben Franklin to Facebook at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-08-06 14:00 - 16:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
What do we mean when we say that free expression should be regulated by the “free marketplace of ideas?” This seductive metaphor has gained widespread currency in the modern United States. For this reason, it is worth thinking about its history. Who popularized the idea? Who opposed it? How is the market to be regulated (as all markets are)?
This illustrated lecture surveys the long history of free expression in the United States from the enactment of the First Amendment in 1791 which limited the power of Congress to restrict the press, to the rise of the Internet, and the challenges posed by AI. Among the topics that we will consider will be the abolitionist mails controversy of the 1830s, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.’s famous dissents in First World War era sedition cases, the regulation of movies and radio during the Second World War, and a little known law—Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996—that has structured public discourse on social media platforms and other on-line communications today.

Supper Social Club at Hotel Cashiers
2025-08-06 17:00 - 21:00 | Hotel Cashiers, 7 Slab Town Road, Cashiers, NC, 28717, United States
Join in every Wednesday for a special prix-fixe dinner menu!
Each week will offer a new concept created by Chef Kelly and will include a starter, entree, and desert as well as special pricing on wine selections curated by our very own sommelier, Gabriel.
Advance tickets offer a discount but walk ins are welcome based on availability. Book in advance and save! Reservations are recommended.

Live Music at Cashiers Celtic Table
2025-08-06 17:00 - 21:00 | Cashiers Celtic Table, 341 U.S. 64, Cashiers, NC, 28717, United States
Join us at Celtic Table for Live Music Wednesdays!

Bluegrass Wednesday at The Ugly Dog Pub
2025-08-06 18:30 - 21:30 | The Ugly Dog Pub – Highlands, 294 S 4th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Bluegrass Wednesday with Nitrograss is back at The Ugly Dog! Seating starts at 6:00 PM, music starts at 6:30 PM. Come enjoy dinner and your favorite bluegrass band, Nitrograss!

The Burnt Part Boys at Highlands PAC
2025-08-06 19:30, 2025-08-07 14:30 | Highlands PAC, 507 Chestnut Street, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Siblings from a mining town learn the power of self-reliance in this Appalachian, bluegrass-inspired journey.
Locally known as “The Burnt Part,” the Pickaway Coal Company’s South Mountain closed down after an accident in 1952 that resulted in the death of four miners. Ten years later, Jake Twitchell is an employee of that same company, doing the same job that took his own father’s life. Much to the dismay of his movie-buff younger brother, Pete, the Pickaway Coal Company is going to begin re-mining The Burnt Part and send down the next generation of young men. Inspired by his silver screen heroes, Pete sets out for The Burnt Part with his best friend, a pack full of dynamite, and plans to blow up the mine in hopes of protecting his older brother. This new musical is a dangerous and heartwarming adventure following the journey to discover the importance of the choices we make to protect our family.

Exclusive! How Journalists Skewered Big Business in U. S. History—and Why It Mattered at Center for Life Enrichment
2025-08-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Center For Life Enrichment, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Thoughtful Americans have long resented special privilege and foreign domination. For much of U. S. history, one word—monopoly–symbolized both of these perils. To combat these perils, journalists —in conjunction with jurists, government officials, social scientists, and business people—have popularized an anti-monopoly vision that has shaped law, public policy, and popular culture. This illustrated lecture (with lots of cartoons) surveys the long history of journalistic representations of big business in U S. history. Why is big business so often represented as an octopus? What about “Mr. Money Bags”—the comic figure in the popular board game “Monopoly”? Anti-monopoly is often conflated with the “big is bad” ethos identified with an 1890 law known as the Sherman Act. This is misleading. The journalistic critique of big business in U. S. history is much more capacious. In 1904, for example, journalist William Randolph Hearst ran for president on a platform that was anti-trust, but pro-municipal ownership. The journalistic indictment of big business—in cartoons, fiction, and oratory, as well as the law—offers us a window on one of the most enduring political impulses in American history. In this lecture, we will not only see how, but also why, this indictment mattered in the past, and how it can help us think more constructively about plutocracy, health care, finance, digital media platforms, and the “tech-industrial complex” of the present.

Family Storytime at Hudson Library
2025-08-07 10:30 | Hudson Library, 554 Main St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Join us for stories, music, and movement at Family Storytime, every Thursday morning at 10:40AM.

Cashiers Quilters at St Jude's Catholic Church
2025-08-07 11:30 | NC
Come join us for lunch each Thursday at 11:30 at a local restaurant and then quilting at the church.
Held at St Jude’s Catholic Church in Cashiers.

Summer Writing Workshop at Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library
2025-08-07 13:00 | Albert-Carlton Community Library, 249 Frank Allen Rd, Cashiers, NC, 28741, United States
Beginning on June 5 at 1:00 p.m. and continuing every Thursday until August 28, ACCCL staff member Michael Redman will lead a writing workshop that is free and open to everyone, regardless of previous writing experience.
The workshop will be a place to be introduced to techniques, perspectives, and exercises to help you develop your writing. It will also provide a safe,welcoming environment for you to share your own thoughts, ideas, and questions.

Kids Zone at Hudson Library
2025-08-07 15:30 | Hudson Library, 554 Main St, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Kids Zone features a variety of fun and interesting programs where kids can explore art, nature, science & more! Best for ages 5 and up.

Paint your Pet with CHHS at Highlands Community Building
2025-08-07 17:00 | Highlands Community Building, 869 North 4th Street, Highlands, NC, 28741, United States
Cashiers Highlands Humane Society and PAWS Bryson City announce our second annual joint fundraiser to support the animals at our no-kill shelters!
No painting skills necessary! Chances are, the less artistic you feel you may be, the more fun you will have! Just send us a head shot photo of your pampered pet when you register below and our artist partner with Be a Light Painting will have customized for you that evening a line drawing sketch of your pet on a 16” x 16” canvas ready for you to paint! Brushes, paints and aprons will all be supplied.
Join us for a fun-filled two hours of creativity and love for the four-legged members of our family! Attendance is limited, so register early! Or show your support and get in on the fun becoming a Sponsor of one of the events.
To give our awesome artist partner with Be a Light Painting time to prepare your customized line drawing sketch of your pet based on the photo you submit, the deadline to register for Paint Your Pet is Friday, June 27th for the July events in Sapphire and Monday, July 21st for the August event in Highlands! Reservations come in hot and fast for this wonderful event and attendance is limited, so don’t delay!
Net proceeds from this event will be split 50/50 with the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society and PAWS Bryson City, both 501(c)3 non-profit no-kill animal shelters rescuing, caring for, and finding forever homes for abandoned and neglected animals in western North Carolina.
RAFFLE PRIZES: Thanks to our generous partners, there will be some awesome prizes we will raffle during Paint Your Pet! So bring some extra bucks (raffle tickets are $10 each) to support the shelter pets and a chance to win some great prizes!
Check-In: 4:30pm | Event: 5:00-7:00pm
Early check-in is encouraged so you have the full two hours to paint your pet!

BBBS | Boots & Bourbon at Chimney Pond Farm
2025-08-07 17:30 - 20:30 | Chimney Pond Farm, 240 Chimney Pond Rd, Glenville, NC, 28736, United States
BBBS of WNC – Macon and Jackson Counties is hosting their annual fundraiser at Chimney Pond Farm in Glenville, NC. Mark your calendars for Aug. 7th!

From 5:30 – 8:30 PM, enjoy live music by Young Mountain Magic, dinner by Village Pantry of Cashiers, live and silent auctions as well as local beer, bourbon and wine!
Tickets are selling now – grab yours here!

HCCMF | Angel Party
2025-08-07 18:00 | NC
Enjoy an outstanding cocktail party and performance by Zuill Bailey, cello & Helen Kim, violin at the stunning home of Faith & Fred Schwaibold. We thrive on generous contributions and are rewarding those patrons who contribute $3,000 and above with an Angel Party.
To join, please consider giving and become a part of this exclusive celebration of your generosity and our 44th season.

Zahner Conservation Lecture Series | Finding the Fabulous Ordinary at Highlands Nature Center
2025-08-07 18:00 - 19:00 | Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Rd, Highlands, NC, 28741
Featured Speaker: Georgann Eubanks, author, University of North Carolina Press
Nature writer Georgann Eubanks gives us a guidebook to the spectacular seasonal joys of ecosystems in the Southeast. The destinations and events she explores in her latest work are scattered across seven states. They include such wonders as bugling elk in the Smokies, a half-million purple martins roosting on an island in a South Carolina lake in July, the bloom of thirty acres of dimpled trout lilies in a remote Georgia forest in February, and gnat larvae that glow like stars on the rock walls of an obscure Alabama canyon. These magical sites are great destinations to visit with children, inspiring wonder and the impulse for protection.
FREE | No registration required
